Two manuscript volumes, 11 July 1891-10 September 1896 and 1894-1897, reveal something of the history of the Dibble Light Dragoons, a military unit formed in 1891 at Orangeburg. According to the minutes of the first meeting, “young men, interested in the organization of a calvary [sic] company, assembled at the Edisto Armory,” and the resulting outfit was named in honor of former Congressman Samuel Dibble. Twenty-nine charter members were present at that meeting. Among the officers chosen was the Dibble Light Dragoon’s first captain, B.H. Moss, who resigned in 1894 and was succeeded by former lieutenant W.W. Culler, Jr.

The minute book, augmented by a small roll book in which attendance and payment of dues were recorded, contains no record of meetings from December 1891 to April 1894; however, according to an undated newspaper clipping with the volumes, it was during that period of time that the members of the company saw their only military duty when the Dibble Light Dragoons was sent in April 1893 to Darlington in response to Governor Tillman’s call for troops at the time of the dispensary riot. Minutes of the 14 March 1896 meeting note that “a handsome Sabre was presented to Major W.W. Culler...for the able manner in which he commanded this company at the Darlington Riot in April 1893.”

In addition to their periodic drills, the Dibble Light Dragoons held annual picnics and shooting matches at which the best marksman was awarded a gold medal contributed by Samuel Dibble. The last meeting recorded in the minute book was that of 10 September 1896. The company disbanded in 1897.